India wanted red flags on chip packets and soda. Big Food fought back.

India's food-safety regulator recently dropped its push for colorful warnings on the front of food packaging, claiming they don't account for the intense flavors of Indian cuisine. Instead, the regulator proposed displaying a black-and-white table of sugar, fat, and salt content on the back of packaging. This decision drew criticism from public health activists who argue that more transparency in labeling can promote healthier eating habits.

Around the world, roughly 20 nations have adopted interpretive labels, such as red for high sugar levels and green for low fat content, on the front of packaged foods. However, India's largest food and beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Nestle have resisted these efforts, arguing that warning labels are confusing, ineffective, and unnecessary.

They maintain that doctors in India have been doing a good job educating their patients about what foods to avoid. The controversy has reached the Supreme Court, which is currently examining India's labeling policy after receiving a petition from public health activists.